Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Discussions Concerning al-Mahdi (May Allah Hasten His Return) Introduction With the Name of Allah, the Kind, the Merciful “O’ Master of the Age, grant us succor!” Allah has called all of His creation to obedience to Imam Mahdi (may Allah hasten his return), since obedience to him is obedience to the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), and obedience to the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) is obedience to Allah, and Allah has created the entire universe to obey and worship Him.
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنُّ وَالإِنْسُ إِلاَّ لِيَعْبُدُونِ “And I have not created the Jinn and mankind except to worship Me. ” [^1] In order to “obey the Mahdi (peace be upon them)” one must carry his guardianship and love in the heart; and to attain his love, one must recognize him. Without recognizing the Mahdi (may Allah hasten his return), his love cannot take hold in the heart. And without loving him, obeying and following him do not come about.
And without following him, devoutness is not possible. And without devoutness, perplexity and misguidedness and wandering in the darkness will result; it is as we have been taught in the form of supplications: اّللَّهُمَّ عَرِّفْنِي حُجَّتَكَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ لَمْ تُعَرِّفْنِي حُجَّتَكَ ضَلَلْتُ عَنْ دِيْنِي “O’ Allah, make me recognize Your authority, for if You don’t make me recognize him, I shall go astray in my religion.
”[^2] And they have said: مَنْ أَنْكَرَ الْمَهْدِي فَقَدَ كَفَرَ “One who denies the Mahdi (peace be upon him) has become a disbeliever.” And also: مَنْ مَاتَ وَلَمْ يَعْرِفْ إِمَامَ زَمَانِهِ مَاتَ مِيْتَةً جَاهِلِيَّةٍ “One who dies without recognizing the Imam of his time dies the death of the Age of Ignorance*.”*[^3] It is on this basis that the religion of Islam does not take form except within the limits of “Shiaism”—which is the true conformity to religion.
And obedience to the religious commands has no meaning except on the basis of “ Imamah ”—which is the Divine leadership. And belief in “ Imamah ” and leadership in the era after the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) does not take shape except with accepting the principle of the “Mahdi”—which is the universal dissemination of the guidance. “Shiaism” is nothing other than the reality of the pure Muhammadan Islam.
“ Imamah ” is nothing other than the continuity of the mission of the Noble Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his family).